As he glanced at the newspaper again, he realised with a heart-thumping shock that perhaps he didn’t need a connection between Cleaver Street and Clearwater, not if he could employ clever men with criminal connections, as the Beast at number nineteen undoubtedly had. He would devise a scheme that could not fail to see Clearwater brought to justice, but cleverly, it would not directly involve the viscount. His shaming would come via one of his close group of catamites, not only bringing Clearwater to ruin, but robbing him of the youth he had so grotesquely fallen in love with.
The curtains flew apart, the spotlights glared, and a triumphant fanfare sounded.
He had a way forward.
Not being a man to rush, and having lived by his personal code of Stop, take Stock and Start again, he tempered his enthusiasm and let the idea germinate through the rest of that night and into the early hours. It was still at the forefront of his mind when he woke after an hour’s sleep, and, shaving for the first time in days, prepared himself for what had to be done.
It was only a few feet, but the distance between number twenty to nineteen felt like crossing a chasm on a narrow plank. His collar was raised, and fighting his natural inclination to walk tall and proudly, his hands were in his pockets and his eyes on the ground. He was careful not to turn to the street as he waited for the bell to be answered, holding back bile that rose when he realised he was to come face to face with the Beast. The handle rattled, the door opened, and he looked directly into the eyes of Edward Lovemount.
‘Bloody hell,’ the youth said. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘The Beast, the man-woman,’ Tripp muttered as he pushed his way past. ‘Shut the door.’
‘Excuse me, Sir,’ Lovemount objected. ‘You can’t just scuttle in here like… Oi? What are you doing?’
‘Where’s the man in charge?’ Tripp demanded. His voice was croaky; he hadn’t spoken to anyone for days.
‘What’s this?’ The man-woman appeared through garish drapes. He wore male clothing, but his face was painted, and although he had applied false eyelashes, for the moment, he was a man.
‘You,’ Tripp said, adrenaline pumping, his heart racing. ‘You knew Sherman Quill.’
The Beast was taken by surprise. ‘What of it?’ he said.
‘Clearwater.’
‘You what?’ Lovemount had closed the door, and on hearing the viscount’s name, stepped into the discussion. ‘What about him?’
‘What was the man doing?’ Tripp’s mind was turning like the paddles of a steamer gathering speed and churning up possibilities.
‘What business is that of yours?’ the Beast demanded. ‘Who are you?’
‘He was butler to Lord Clearwater,’ Lovemount said. ‘His name’s…’
Tripp swiped him across the face with the back of his hand. ‘No names,’ he growled. ‘Keep silent.’ His enthusiasm was bubbling into anger. These men were idiots. They didn’t understand his cause, and they didn’t have his determination. He was wasting his time.
Lovemount complained at being hit, but the Beast was happy about it and told him to stay quiet. His dark eyes narrowed as he stared at Tripp.
‘Go on,’ the man-woman said. ‘I will hear what you have to say.’
Perhaps they weren’t all idiots.
‘The man wasn’t a suicidal maniac.’ Tripp stated, so sure was he of his theory.
The Beast gave nothing away.
‘He was acting under your instructions, and something went wrong.’
‘Who knows?’
‘You do, Mr Danvers.’ Tripp had done his research.
‘That’s not my name.’
Maybe it wasn’t. What did it matter?
‘I think you and Sherman Quill had an alliance,’ Tripp said, holding the man’s repulsive stare. ‘You had a plan that involved Cadwell Roxton, because you have something against Clearwater. I am not here to find out what, but to tell you how we can work together.’
‘And if I don’t know what you’re talking about?’
‘If you pretend to not understand, then you are a fool. If you listen to what I have to say, you will benefit. The choice is yours.’
The Beast considered and looked at Lovemount.
‘He’s got money,’ Lovemount said, with a grudging nod of approval.
‘Go on.’
‘I believe you and I share the same aim, Danvers.’ If he was to work with the man, he would have to stop thinking of him as a beast. ‘You realise, of course, that I have had this house under surveillance.’
Danvers blanched, and Lovemount scrambled to the front door.
‘No!’ Tripp caught his arm, and the lad was surprised at his strength. ‘I don’t intend to do anything with my information, although Inspector Adelaide and the police force would, no doubt, be grateful for it.’ He let the monkey go and focused his attention on the organ grinder. ‘And, I am prepared to hand it over, along with the names of those I recognise who have used this place.’ He allowed his enthusiasm to return and simmer close to boiling point. ‘With a little cooperation on your part, some investment from me and a pinch of cunning, you can assist me in bringing Clearwater to his knees and lower. Alternatively, I can find a way of doing it myself, and report my findings of your house to the authorities if you don’t help me. I, of course, will have to trust you, Danvers. Even that.’ He meant Lovemount.
Danvers considered him carefully, his eyes dragging from Lovemount to the wizened creature with the forceful grip. ‘Go on,’ he said, this time with more interest.
‘I assume you are not averse to lying?’ Tripp queried.
Danvers waved his hands before his face, displaying his makeup. ‘This is the lie that tells the truth.’
‘And it is all you need to find yourself in prison,’ Tripp replied, unimpressed at the man’s self-admiration. ‘I, however, have much more. Where you have the valuable resource of no morality, I have information. Together we can ensure that Viscount Clearwater is stripped of his title and forfeits his fortune, while his catamite, Hawkins, is taken away in chains and left to rot in Newgate.’
‘What do you need, Sir?’ Danvers asked, his face breaking into a twisted grin as possibilities occurred.
‘Do you, perchance, have any criminal contacts in Westerpool?’
Danvers considered this before replying. ‘It can be arranged. For what purpose?’
‘I witnessed Roxton being bundled from carriage to house and, later, from house to street,’ Tripp said. ‘I could give the police the exact time and date, or I could ask you to arrange a similar kidnapping elsewhere, for which, Sir, I would pay handsomely with my silence.’
Danvers indicated the curtained arch. ‘Perhaps you would like to come into my parlour,’ he offered.
‘I wouldn’t,’ Tripp grimaced. ‘But I must. We have people and dates to discuss, namely the street rat, Hawkins, and the sodomite, Clearwater.’
On the nod from Danvers, Lovemount parted the curtains. ‘And what dates?’ the lad asked.
‘October the ninth and eleventh,’ Tripp replied, removing his overcoat.
‘October the ninth?’ Danvers and Lovemount exchanged quizzical glances. ‘That was the night of the Ripper’s last murder, wasn’t it?’
‘It was, Mr Danvers.’
‘And the eleventh? What happened that night?’
Tripp handed his coat to Lovemount. ‘That, Sir is what we are about to fabricate.’
Watch out for Fallen Splendour
The Clearwater Mysteries book four
If you have enjoyed this story, here is a list of my other novels to date. With them, I’ve put my own heat rating according to how sexually graphic they are. They are all romantic in some way apart from the short stories.
References to sex (*) A little sex
(**) A couple of times (***) Quite a bit, actually (****) Cold shower required (*****)
Short erotic stories
In School & Out *****
13 erotic short stories, winner of the European Gay Porn Awards (best erotic fiction). Boarding schools and sex on a Greek island.
Older/younger MM romances
The Mentor of Wildhill Farm ****
Older writer mentors four young gay guys in more than just verbs and adjectives. Isolated setting. Teens coming out. Sex parties. And a twist.
The Mentor of Barrenmoor Ridge ***
It takes a brave man to climb a mountain, but it takes a braver lad to show him the way. Mountain rescue. Coming to terms with love, loss and sexuality.
The Mentor of Lonemarsh House ***
I love you enough to let you run, but too much to see you fall
Folk music. Hidden secrets. Family acceptance.
The Mentor of Lostwood Hall ***
A man with a future he can’t accept and a lad with a past he can’t escape. A castle. A road accident. Youth and desire.
MM romance thrillers
Other People’s Dreams ***
Screenwriter seeks four gay youths to crew his yacht in the Greek islands. Certain strings attached.
Dreams come true. Coming of age. Youth friendships and love.
The Blake Inheritance **
Let us go then you and I to the place where the wild thyme grows
Family mystery. School crush. A treasure hunt romance.
The Stoker Connection ***
What if you could prove the greatest Gothic novel of all time was a true story? Literary conspiracy. Teen boy romance. First love. Mystery and adventure.
Curious Moonlight *
He’s back. He’s angry and I am fleeing for my life.
A haunted house. A mystery to solve. A slow-burn romance. Straight to gay.
The Clearwater Mysteries
Deviant Desire ***
Book 1. A mashup of mystery, romance and adventure, Deviant Desire is set in an imaginary London of 1888. The first in an on-going series in a world where homosexuality is a crime. Mystery/adventure.
Twisted Tracks **
Book 2. An intercepted telegram, a coded invitation and the threat of exposure. Viscount Clearwater must put his life on the line to protect his reputation. Mystery/adventure
Unspeakable Acts *
Book 3. A murder will take place unless Clearwater’s homosexuality is made public; can his lover stop the killing and save his reputation?
Fallen Splendour
Book 4. Due later in 2019
All these can all be found on my Amazon Author page.
Please leave a review if you can. Thanks again for reading. If you keep reading, I’ll keep writing.
Jackson
Unspeakable Acts Page 31